ANNUAL CSB CUP CONTEST SATURDAY FOR CVU BOYS HOCKEY SIX

Coach Mike Murray and his Champlain Valley Union boys hockey team are hoping recent series unpredictability continuers Saturday night (8 p.m.) in the annual Cairns Arena clash with South Burlington for the CSB Cup.

The Rebels rapped the Redhawks 5-1 earlier this month, but in recent years past scores have meant little in the Cup contest. Last winter, South Burlington won the cup game while CVU went on to earn the Division I state title.

CVU took a four-game losing string and a 4-7 overall mark to Jay Peak and North Country Union Wednesday night (after Observer press deadline).

Scoring woes continued to hound the Redhawks Saturday (Jan. 21) in a 3-0 loss to 10-1 BFA-St. Albans. CVU had 23 shots without finding the net behind BFA goalie Andre Morin. The previous Saturday, CVU netted just 1 of 27 shots in a 2-1 defeat by Rutland.

The BFA game went scoreless until late in the second period, when the Bobwhites’ Zach Devoid potted a score. BFA added the second tally early in the final reel. An empty-netter came just before the end of proceedings.

CRAFTSBURY MARATHON NEXT FOR CVU NORDIC SKIERS

After a solid performance Friday (Jan. 20) in races at the Jericho range, hosted by Mount Mansfield Union, the Champlain Valley Union Nordic team is looking ahead to Saturday’s marathon event in Craftsbury.

“We had a great night,” CVU Nordic coach Sarah Strack said of Friday’s event via e-mail.

The girls team, led by winner Sienna Searles, crowded six racers into the top 11 to outdistance Mount Mansfield by 18 points. Ten teams took part.

Searles posted a winning time of 22:50 to easily outpace runner-up Larissa Kehue from U-32.

“Sienna dominated the race from the start,” said Strack, noting that the senior had previous difficulty on the course.

CVU’s boys came in second to the host Cougars in their 12-team race. Sam Logenbach (11th), Sean Delaney (15th), Emmett Peterson (16th) and Ian Meier (19th) led the Redhawks.

MMU’s Jack Hegman won in 17 minutes and 35 seconds.

CVU WRESTLERS TO FREQUENT COLCHESTER

By this time next week, Colchester town officials may be looking at members of the Champlain Valley Union wrestling team as a source of resident tax revenue.

The Redhawks will be in the town by the bay three times starting with Thursday night’s session with the Colchester Lakers and Harwood Union (6 p.m.).

Coach Rahn Fleming and his ‘Hawks return Saturday morning at 9 a.m. for the opening of the two-day Colchester Invitational. The tournament concludes Tuesday at 6 p.m.

CVU is coming off a 10th place finish in the prestigious 27-team Baker Classic this past weekend at Essex High School.

The humdinger of the event for CVU was Clark Poston, who won the 182-pound class. Liam Bowley took the runner-up slot in the 99-pound division.

GREY SWIMS WAY TO CONFERENCE HONOR

Williston native and University of Virginia swimmer Taylor Grey shared the Atlantic Coast Conference men’s performer of the week honor, the league announced Jan. 17.

Grey, a sophomore, won three individual events and set two Christiansburg Aquatic Center records as the Cavaliers rallied to come back and beat Virginia Tech, 161-139. His win in the 400 individual medley — the last individual event before the final relay — sparked a 1-2-3 Cavalier finish that helped propel Virginia to a victory. According to a release from the school, Grey set two pool records — including the 200 breaststroke (2:01.59) and 400 individual medley (3:56.57) — and also won the 100 breaststroke in 56.69. Grey shared the honor with North Carolina senior David MacDonald, the release said.